Extractor for lock retainer clips

ABSTRACT

An extractor which has a clamp head operating on a universally jointed handle enables the operator to engage and easily remove the spring steel lock retaining clip that holds locks onto car doors or like sheet metal areas.

United States Patent Shufflebarger [54] EXTRACTOR FOR LOCK RETAINERCLIPS [72] Inventor: Cleo W. Shuiflebarger, 405 West Ann Street, PuntoGorda, Fla. 33950 [221 Filed: Jan. 6, 1970 m Appl. N"; 965

52 u.s.c|. -29/273, 8/3 R [511 lm. Cl ..B25b 27/20 [58] FieldotSearch.sum UJ,3.01,3.04,3.8,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,744,356 1/1930 Bodendieck..145/50.6

[ 5] Feb. 15,1972

7/1914 Bojas "81/177 UJ 1,102,863 2,450,293 9/1948 Oserowsky ..29/254XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22,495 8/1912 Norway ..81/177 U.|

Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker,Jr. Attorney-Gordon W. Hueschen and A. David Spevack I 57] ABSTRACT Anextractor which has a clamp head operating on a universally jointedhandle enables the operator to engage and easily remove the spring steellock retaining clip that holds locks onto car doors or like sheet metalareas.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures EXTRACTOR FOR LOCK RETAINER CLIPS Thisinvention pertains to a tool used in locksmithing and more particularlypertains to a device for extracting the retaining clip that holds locksto sheet metal closures such as automotive doors and trunks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The lock commonly found on the'doors andtrunks of automobiles, trucks, and other similar equipment is-generallyof the cylindrical type. The lock-is installed by cutting ahole in thesheet metal of the area where it is to' be implaced, pushing the tumblerportion of the lockthrough the opening and then holding thetumbler inplace with a retaining clip. The outer portion of the lock lies in awasher type arrangement which gives a smooth appearance to the outsideportionofthe lock and in addition gives no gripping points forremovingthe lock. The tumbler portion of-the lock is usuallyprovided-with two slots or knurls or similar means disposed on oppositesides of the tumbler. A U-shaped steel spring clip is designed to slideinto the grooves, or under the knurls, andby a wedging action againstthe interior face of the sheet metal maintain the lock securely in thedoor.

The automotive door or trunk lid is usually constructed of two sheets ofmetal, one forming the outer part of the door and the other the innerpart. The outer one is sculptured to whatever design is desired by themanufacturer and'the inner one is formed to give thickness to the doorso as to provide a boxlike structure. Access to the inside of this doorstructure is provided by a number of entry ports or holes in the innerformed sheet metal part of the door metal. In order toservice theequipment found in the door, such as lock mechanisms, door-operatingmechanisms and window mechanisms, it is necessary to operate throughthese entry ports and around the other parts found in the door.

The lock-retaining clip is, in theory, fairly easy to remove. It is onlynecessary to grasp'an upright lip provided on the rear of the clip andpull upward and outward. Unfortunately the clip is located on theinterior side of the outer metalsheet and is usually inaccessibletoa-human hand holding a pliers. Various means have to be used in anattempt to remove the clip. These methods include attempts to pry theclip off with screwdriver, pry bar, or whatever tool can fit into theopening and still permit digital manipulation. These bouts of man andinanimate object often result in an expenditure of time on v removingand inserting the clip which is out of all proportion to the actual workwhich has to be performed on the lock itself. In addition there is oftena loss of skin and blood by the workman in trying to manipulate theseclips.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide an extractorwhich can easily be positioned at the clip.

It is a further object of, this invention to provide a extractor whichpositively engages the clip.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extractor which issubstantially manipulated from outside the confines of the door.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an extractor whichcan be used for reinserting the clip in its proper position.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent in the followingdescription.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates a tool useful forextracting lock retaining clips, which clips are designed to hold andmount locks on sheet metal structures or the like. The extractor has ascrew member which is operably mounted in a clamp head and cooperateswith the head to provide the clamping action. A handle is connected tothe screw member by means of a universal joint thereby permitting theoperation of said screw member by the handle regardless of theirrelative position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a full perspective top view ofthe device showing the slide sleeve in the closed position and a clipshown in shadow.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the slide sleeve drawn backand an alternate embodiment of the handle.

FIG. 3 is a detail of top view of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT Now having generally described theextractor of this invention, reference is made to the drawings todescribe a specific embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows an extractor '10 which has aclamp head 11. The clamp head is shown gripping a spring lock retainingclip 12. The clamp head is a frame having two stationary verticallydisposed uprights l3 and 14 which define a U-shaped guide way 15. Thefacing walls- 16 and 17 of the uprights 13 and 14 are at leastone-eighthof an inch in height as measured from the closed portion 18 ofsaid U-shaped guide way 15. It is not necessary that the uprights bestationary. In another embodiment (not illustrated), at least one of theuprights can be movable and apply the; gripping pressure. The guide wayneed only be as deep as necessary to receive a portion of the lip 112 ofthe clip 12, butpreferably grips substantially the entire lip 112 of theclip 12. Uprights l3 and 14 have beveled edges 20 and 21 whichfacilitates alignments of the lip 1120f the clip 12 in guide way 151(FIGS. 1 and 3).

Referring now to FIG. 3, the clamping action is provided by a screwmember 19 which is operably mounted in upright 14 of clamp head 11 andcooperates with wall 17 of upright 13 to engage the retainer clip whenit is inserted in groove 15. The

screw member 19 is positioned in upright 14 so that it will,

exert a strong force against the lip 112 of the clip 12. The screwmember is positioned'at least one-sixteenth of an inch below the openend of the guide way 15. The screw member 17 is so positioned that itscontact point is centered on wall 17 of upright 13. The screw member 19is operated by means of a handle 22 (FIGS. 1, 2 or 3). The handle isconnected to the screw member 19 by a universal joint 23. The universaljoint has a central rod member 24 with tongues 25 and 26 disposed onopposite ends of central rod member 24. The principal plane of tongues25 and 26 are turned to each other. The. tongue 25 is inserted in slot27 of screw member 19 and pivotally held there by pin 30. In like mannertongue 26 is inserted in slot 27 of handle 22 and pivotally held inplace by'pin 29. The universal joint 23 connecting the screw member 19and the handle 22 permits operation of the screw member 19 by the handle22 regardless of their relative positions. Any universal jointconfiguration which can transmit force parallel to the long axis of thejoint, without deforming, is operable within the concept of thisinvention. Such universal joints are illustrated on pages 260-263 ofEngineers Illustrated Thesaurus, by H. Herkimer, Chemical PublishingCo., New York (1952), particularly preferred universal joints are theBoston Gear Works type joint, the ball and socket joint and theuniversal joint with gimbal ring. A flexible coupling can be used inplace of the universal joint but this type of coupling is not preferredunless it can withstand the force lines transmitted parallel to the longaxis of the joint when pulling or pushing force is exerted on the devicein removing or inserting the retainer clip 12.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a slide sleeve 31 isslidably mounted on handle 22 to selectively permit and restrict thefree movement of the universal joint 23. In FIG. 1 the slide sleeve 31is illustrated in closed position covering universal joint 23. In theclosed position the slide sleeve 31 makes the entire device rigid andthereby facilitates the guidance of the clamp head through the internalmechanisms of an automotive door or trunk lid to the work site. In FIG.2 the slide sleeve is shown in a retracted position exposing theuniversal joint 23 and allowing the handle 22 to operate the screwmember 19 regardless of their relative positions. A stop member 32 ismounted on the handle 22 to restrict the movement of the slide sleeve31. The stop 32 can be integrally formed on the handle 22 by bending orpinching the metal as is known in the art or it can be a separate piecesuch as a rubber doughnut movably mounted on the handle 22. The stop 31is positioned on the handle so as to allow the slide sleeve 31 to beretracted to a position which allows the free movement of the universaljoint 23.

The handle 22 terminates in a leverage aid which can be a disc 33 inslot 34 illustrated in FIG. 1 or a bent handle 35 illustrated in FIG. 2.Any of the commonly used leverage aids such as knobs, knurling, hooks,rings, etc., can be used on the handle to improve the gripping andturning force of the device.

In operation, the lock clip is first exposed by removing the inner doorpanel or locating the lock if it is a trunk lid lock or similarlypositioned lock. The slide sleeve 31 is then placed in the closedposition resting against the back of clamp head 1 1. The clamp head 11is rotated a few turns so that the screw member 19 is disengaged fromcontact with face 17 of upright 13. It is preferred that screw member 19actually be behind the face 16 of upright 14. The device is theninserted through a hole in the door and positioned so that the lip 112of the retainer clip 12 is in the guide way 15. The slide sleeve 31 isthen retracted, exposing universal joint 23, and the handle 22 ismanipulated from any convenient position, preferably outside the doorframe, until the screw member 19 tightens against the lip 112 of clip 12clamping the lip 112 of clip 12 securely against face 17 of upright 13.A pulling force is then exerted on the handle 22, which is convenientlyoutside the cramped space of the door frame, and the clip 12 readilyremoved. The lock is then removed from the outside of the door andserviced. When the lock is to be reinstalled it is positioned in thedoor and the clip 12 clamped into the clamp head 11 in the mannerpreviously described. The slide sleeve 31 is placed in the closedposition thereby providing a rigid tool. The clip 12 is then guided toits proper position and by the application of a pushing force on thehandle 22 and the clip 12 reset in its proper position. The slide sleeve31 is then retracted and the clamping pressure of screw member 19released by manipulating the handle 22. The tool is removed and thefinishing work, such as replacing door panels completed. By the use ofthe device the operation is completed rapidly without damage to eitherthe clip, lock or workman.

Although the invention has been particularly disclosed for a device witha screw clamp it is to be understood that the invention is applicablefor other types of clamp heads operable through a universal joint. It isalso obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the foregoing ispresented by way of example only and the invention is not to be undulyrestricted thereby, since modifications may be made in the tool withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention.

1 claim:

1. An extractor for lock retainer clips comprising a clamp head, a screwmember operably mounted in said clamp head and operably cooperating withsaid clamp head, a handle, and a universal joint connecting said screwmember and said handle so as to permit operation of said screw member bysaid handle regardless of their relative positions.

2. An extractor according to claim 1 wherein said clamp head is a framehaving two stationary uprights substantially defining a U-shaped guideway, and said screw member is operably positioned in one of saiduprights so as to cooperate with the other of said uprights to provide aclamping force.

3. An extractor according to claim 2 wherein the uprights are at leastone-eighth of an inch high as measured from the closed portion of theU-shaped guide way.

4. An extractor according to claim 2 wherein a sleeve is slidablymounted on said handle and positioned to selectively expose or coversaid universal joint.

5. An extractor according to claim 4 wherein a stop means is mounted onsaid handle to restrict the movement of said slide.

6. An extractor according to claim 5 wherein the uprights are at leastone-eighth of an inch as measured from the closed portion of theU-shaped guide way.

7. An extractor according to claim 1 comprising a clamp head havingvertically disposed facing walls defining a U- shaped guide way; a screwmember operably disposed in an upright and passing through one of saidwalls and cooperatively engaging the other of said walls to provide aclamping action, said walls being at least one-eighth of an inch asmeasured from the closed portion of said U-shaped guide way; a handle; auniversal joint connecting said screw member and said handle so as topermit operation of said screw member by said handle regardless of theirrelative positions; a sleeve slidably mounted on said handle andpositioned to selectively pennit and restrict the free movement of saiduniversal joint and a stop means positioned on said handle so as toengage and limit the travel of said sleeve.

1. An extractor for lock retainer clips comprising a clamp head, a screwmember operably mounted in said clamp head and operably cooperating withsaid clamp head, a handle, and a universal joint connecting said screwmember and said handle so as to permit operation of said screw member bysaid handle regardless of their relative positions.
 2. An extractoraccording to claim 1 wherein said clamp head is a frame having twostationary uprights substantially defining a U-shaped guide way, andsaid screw member is operably positioned in one of said uprights so asto cooperate with the other of said uprights to provide a clampingforce.
 3. An extractor according to claim 2 wherein the uprights are atleast one-eighth of an inch high as measured from the closed portion ofthe U-shaped guide way.
 4. An extractor according to claim 2 wherein asleeve is slidably mounted on said handle and positioned to selectivelyexpose or cover said universal joint.
 5. An extractor according to claim4 wherein a stop means is mounted on said handle to restrict themovement of said slide.
 6. An extractor according to claim 5 wherein theuprights are at least one-eighth of an inch as measured from the closedportion of the U-shaped guide way.
 7. An extractor according to claim 1comprising a clamp head having vertically disposed facing walls defininga U-shaped guide way; a screw member operably disposed in an upright andpassing through one of said walls and cooperatively engaging the otherof said walls to provide a clamping action, said walls being at leastone-eighth of an inch as measured from the closed portion of saidU-shaped guide way; a handle; a universal joint connecting said screwmember and said handle so as to permit operation of said screw member bysaid handle regardless of their relative positions; a sleeve slidablymounted on said handle and positioned to selectively permit and restrictthe free movement of said universal joint and a stop means positioned onsaid handle so as to engage and limit the travel of said sleeve.